Flight 7: Temptation

Three figures huddled in the shadows of an Athens street corner, trying to avoid being seen in the moonlight. "Okay," whispered Julian. "On my signal, the two of you run to the hangar. Ray, run backwards so the two of you can keep an eye on all of your surroundings. I'll sneak around through the back and start the Eternal Eclipseas fast as possible. Got it?"

"Or we could just go," said Ray, at normal speaking volume. "That George guy was pretty crazy. I'm sure he didn't even notice he was missing Eklepia."

"He also had a robot-maid thing," Lilith pointed out. "Probably means he couldn't take care of himself properly. And if he can't even cook his own meals, I doubt he can chase us around Athens forever." She pointed to her feet. "Also, I can't run particularly fast in these boots."

"Forgive me for being a little over-cautious," Julian muttered. "As glad as I am that we now have a trump card – pardon the pun – to use against Albert's group, robbing a madman may not have been the best way to obtain it."

"You won it!" Ray protested. "We'll be fine."

"Oh wait," said Lilith, pointing towards a building. "Julian was right." Standing on the rooftop was the maid, arms crossed and hair billowing in the wind.

"Mister Chapman requests his card returned to him," The maid said emotionlessly. She hopped down to the ground – a fall that should have killed her. "I have been authorized to use lethal force if necessary."

Ray glanced at Lilith. He made an L with his thumb and index finger, raising an eyebrow quizzically. Lilith shook her head. Ray raised his fists and moved them up and down. Lilith shook her head harder. Ray shrugged.

Non-verbal communication, hmm? Julian asked himself. The maid took a boxing stance. She's clearly stronger than any of us. Likely all three of us. He noticed a duel disc on her arm, but then shook his head. No, this can't be solved with card games. I won the card once, but even if I do it again, George probably won't give up. But if I could distract her with a card game and let Ray and Lilith escape... they don't know how to fly the ship. Dammit.

"Surrender the card," the maid said, approaching Julian. "You have five seconds to comply."

"Julian, we can win without the card!" Ray cried.

"He's right. It's not worth our heads." Lilith added.

If I give away Eklepia, we'd be at a worse chance of stopping the Lymph Nodes. I..."I can't!" Julian protested. "We need to stop Albert at all costs. If this card increases the chances even a little, we can't give it away!" The maid raised a fist.

"Julian!" Ray and Lilith yelled, somewhere between frustration and concern. The maid continued punching, but at the last second, she jumped backwards, narrowly avoiding the flying blade of a tin can lid.

"Suffering scrapheaps! She's a speedy one!" An overly-dramatic voice cried from somewhere distant.

A flash of blue landed in front of them. Junkgirl rose to her feet. "Are you hurt?" She asked.

"N-no..." said Lilith.

"Oh my god this is awesome," said Ray.

"You three!" Scrapman cried, as he walked under a streetlight. "Get to the hangar. We'll hold her off."

"I have no business with the likes of you," said the maid.

"Anyone who attacks innocent bystanders has business with us!" Scrapman argued. "When the sun sets and the crimes of night befall Athens..."

"It is we who punish evildoers! It is we who deliver justice!" Junkgirl continued. As the duo continued their introduction, Julian and Lilith ran to the hangar.

"Ray, we don't have time to listen to the whole speech!" Lilith snapped at Ray, who hadn't moved.

"Aw, man!" Ray groaned, then followed into the hangar. "Be careful, Scrapman and Junkgirl!" Scrapman turned towards the fleeing Ray during one of his pauses in the speech and gave a salute. Ray returned it, tears in his eyes, then Lilith pulled him into the hangar and onto the ship's gangplank. Within a minute, the hangar's roof opened, and the Eternal Eclipsebegan its ascent. Ray stood on the top deck, but couldn't get a good view of the superheroes' battle.

"Don't worry," said Lilith, putting her hand on his shoulder. "They'll be fine. I'm sure they've fought harder battles than this."

"Y-yeah," Ray agreed tentatively.

"That's not exactly how I remember it," Lilith said over a bowl of cereal the next morning. "I think you dreamt about it and your brain added some stuff."

"It's close enough to what happened!" Ray protested. "Maybe you just dreamt about something else and your brain forgot the epic battle."

Lilith sighed. It's too early for this. She thought. Ray might have a point, though. My dream has been distracting me. What's behind that door?She shook her head and turned to Julian. "What's our plan now? Should we go after the tournament winners?"

"Probably," Julian agreed. "Really, I'm not sure what the best course of action is. On one hand, challenging Albert directly is the only way to get all five Eldricytes... though it has the definite risk of losing all of them."

"And on the other hand, if we go after the first-place winners, then we can make sure four Eldricytes are safe, but then there's the risk of someone constructing the Lymph Nodes with just the one blueprint," Lilith said. "Not that it's up to us."

"Lilith's right," Ray shrugged. "You said Albert needs all the Eldricytes, so he'll come to us at some point. Whether we go after the winners or not, we'll have to duel Albert's group eventually." He pounded the table with his fist. "I say we just go after them right now! We're ready. We have Eklepia. They can't stop us."

"It's too early," Julian shook his head. "If we defeat them now, then there's still a race for the last Eldricyte. If they get it first, we'd have to duel them again, and that leaves plenty of time for them to find a counter to Eklepia. It's better to use it while it's still a surprise."

"So... we have to wait for Albert's group to get the last Eldricyte?" Lilith asked.

"More or less," said Julian. He opened up the previous day's newspaper. "Though we might as well head over to the last Eldricyte-holders and meet them there." He put down the page. "Which, incidentally, is where I set course last night."

"So... where are we now?" Lilith asked.

"Laugh at me all you want for my lack of information," Julian began. "But we are currently above Paris."

"Paris," Lilith repeated. "As in Paris, France? The first place we visited?"

"The very same," said Julian. "As it turns out, my original source of information was half-right. There was an Eldricyte here, but it didn't belong to Otto and Fritz. And I was wrong when I assumed it had been anted enough times to travel a continent. The ones who entered the tournament simply lived here all along."

"Let's go visit Otto and Fritz!" said Ray. "We can duel them again to see how awesome we've become since then!"

"Actually, we're pretty busy," said a voice from the ceiling, through static. "Mr. Nobel, can you switch us to a video feed? I'm guessing we're on the right channel, so..."

"Speak of the devil," Julian muttered. He walked over to a strange panel on the wall and flipped a switch. The panel opened up and a flat screen folded out, flickered briefly and then showed a grainy video of the goggled, messy face that the group recognized as Otto Hahn. "I suppose I'll have to wait to inform you about the finer details of privacy."

"Nice to see you guys again too," Otto replied. "But if you want privacy, you'll have to add some security to your radio signal. I can hook something up for... oh, that Lorelei card we bet against."

"Otto!" said Ray. "I challenge you! We won't lose this time!"

"Hold your horses, kid," Otto said, chuckling. "I didn't just hack into your ship's intercom to play cards with ya."

"So then to what do we owe the hacking?" Julian asked.

"Well, Fritz and I were readin' that article about you guys finding the real Eldricytes. Good job, by the way – you beat some really pro players. I'm sure you guys already know that the proest of the pros are here in Paris. That's why you're here, right?" Otto didn't wait for their reply. "So just earlier this morning, an airship touched down and we hear that it's got a tag-team duo and an old guy who's after the Eldricytes. Imagine our surprise when it turns out it's not you."

"They're already here?" Julian demanded.

"Yeah," said Otto. "I'm sure you're interested. Anyway, they do things differently than you guys. They went and invited Arthur Doyle and Jean Leckie up to their airship instead of landing. I figure they're hiding something."

"You don't say," Julian muttered. Then his eyes widened. "Wait, does that mean you – "

"Yeah, Fritz and I hacked into their intercom too. They haven't said anything worth hiding, but it's a really good duel so far." He moved his hand off-screen and flicked a switch. "And now I've punched it up to you guys."

"Why are you doing this?" Lilith asked.

"Boredom," said Otto, shrugging. "Well... Fritz had a better reason, but I dunno if he'd want me to tell – "

"That old guy's a loon!" said Fritz, his gasmask-wearing face leaning into the screen. "I dunno what you guys' business is with him, but I recognized him as the guy who tried to shut down our lab a year ago. Said the stuff we were doing was dangerous. Like we didn't know that already!"

"Anyway, I'm gonna close up the channel while there's still a duel for you to watch. Hope the info helps ya." With that, the screen flickered off.

"Tried to shut down their lab?" Lilith asked.

"Sure sounds like Albert Gewald to me," Julian agreed, flipping a dial on the machine. "But why he targeted their lab in particular, I'm not sure. A two-person lab in the middle of Paris doesn't seem like a prime target." Finally, the picture flickered back. "Ah, here we go." The trio got a view of four people on the top deck of a stationary airship. One of the duellists was a middle-aged man with a handlebar moustache – his partner was an elegantly dressed, similarly-old woman.

"Man, I love all these giant moustaches we've seen," Ray said, chuckling.

"Ray," Lilith said dully. "Look." She pressed her finger against the half of the screen depicting the other two players. One was a skinny, pale blonde girl. The other, an older-looking, tan, fit woman with dark hair. Their field was empty, aside from a familiar-looking winged woman with a whip-sword.

"Oh hey, it's Nephele and Demetria!" Ray said. "We should have a rematch against them after Otto and Fritz." He put his hand to his chin in thought, then came to realization. "Wait a second. They're the other team?"

"I tribute my two Cloudian Tokens for Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon!" said the man that was presumed to be Arthur. The two puffballs that had been in front of him spun around each other, finally forming a gargantuan, blue cloud with a single eye. (3000 ATK)

"What are the life points at?" Ray asked.

"No idea," Lilith replied.

"Eye of the Typhoon attacks your Winged Amazon!" Arthur ordered; the cloud released a twister from its mouth, blasting away the winged woman. "However, by its effect, your monster was switched to Defence Position, so you don't take any Battle Damage."

"Then it's my turn!" Demetria said fiercely. "I summon Amazoness Blowpiper!" A woman leapt to the field, holding a blowgun. (800 ATK)

"Ah, I see," said Arthur. "You want my Eye of the Typhoonto switch it to Defence Position so you won't take Battle Damage again. Fair enough, but – "

"I'm not defending!" Demetria cried. "I activate Twin Swords of Flashing Light – Tryce," said Demetria. "I equip it to Amazoness Blowpiper. Now, she loses 500 ATK, but can attack twice per turn." The woman looked somewhat surprised as her blowgun was replaced with two tiny swords. (300 ATK)

"You crazy woman," The woman presumed to be Jean scoffed, unfolding a fan in front of her mouth. "You played much better at the tournament."

"Now, we have something to play for!" Demetria roared. "I activate Amazoness Spellcaster! This switches the ATK of an Amazoness with a monster you control. Amazoness Blowpiper's 300 ATK and Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon's 3000 ATK are switched!" The woman's swords grew to each be twice as long as she was tall, and the giant cloud shrank to the size of a cotton ball.

"Wait, but..." Arthur began.

"Amazoness Blowpiper attacks Eye of the Typhoon!" Demetria pointed at the tiny cloud, and her warrior swung the sword through it. (2700 damage - 2000 LP) "Eye of the Typhoonisn't destroyed by battle, but that's okay. I have another attack!" The woman swung her other sword, again not harming the cloud, but the sword struck Arthur behind it. (2700 damage - 0 LP)

"Nice job!" Nephele said ecstatically, as the holograms disappeared. She gave Demetria a thumbs-up.

"The Eldricyte, as promised," Arthur said. He ruffled through his breast pocket and retrieved a white card. He walked out of frame.

"Thank you," said a voice off-screen. The body to which it belonged stepped in the middle of the screen. He was a tall, blonde man, definitely younger than Albert and George. Ray had half-expected a diabolical, twirly moustache and perhaps maniacal laughter as the man's plan reached completion, but instead, Albert was clean-shaven and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You've done it again," Albert said happily to the Ambrosia sisters. "Thank you so much."

"Any time," said Nephele.

"We'll land shortly," Albert called to Arthur and Jean. "First, there's one matter to attend to."

"Before even landing?" Nephele asked.

"Yes," Albert replied. His image on the screen turned directly to face the watchers. "Julian Nobel, correct?" Julian opened his mouth, but Albert continued, "Your communications aren't connected to ours, so you can't talk back. Just listen – and you as well, Ray Ashford and Lilith Huron."

"Ray and Lilith are watching?" Nephele wondered.

"Yes," said Albert. "This message is mostly for the two of you, Ray and Lilith. Julian should already know what I'm about to say. I understand completely why you're after the Eldricytes. I'm sure you already know about the Lymph Nodes, and how only a madman would advocate their construction. I'm sure Julian's told you that.

"Of course, if I was just a madman trying to destroy technology for the hell of it – like our dear associate Mr. Chapman – why would I have waited this long? The Eldricytes were given away months ago. Why didn't I collect them immediately after the tournament, or even more directly, enter it myself? The truth is, I didn't want to build the Lymph Nodes either – until just recently, when I realized what science was leading towards.

"Do you remember an experiment conducted by Otto and Fritz? The unfortunate experiment that resulted in the loss of Otto's leg? I'll reiterate – Otto accidentally split an atom, causing a chain reaction that released a tremendous amount of energy." Otto's words echoed through Ray and Lilith's minds. "It's called nuclear fission," Otto said. "If I can replicate that experiment, and not blow any more of my limbs off, we might have ourselves a really efficient fuel source. It could change the world."

"Julian, this is directed at you – how do you of all people not realize what happens when scientists develop something like this?" Albert demanded. "Your father accidentally invented dynamite, one of the most deadly weapons of warfare. What will happen when humanity uses this new nuclear power to develop weapons? What will happen when humanity creates an atomic bomb?

"Well, you might not understand, being only the son of a scientist instead of one yourself. I'll tell you. Nuclear weapons will be the deadliest weapon of warfare in the history of mankind – and the future of mankind. A single war conducted with these weapons could cause the destruction of the entire planet. We need to stop this now! Before it's too late!" He roared. "We need the Lymph Nodes now!"

"Ray, Lilith..." Nephele said, leaning in towards the screen. "I don't know if you're actually listening to this, but... don't throw away the world for your pride. Humanity... humanity's doomed without the Lymph Nodes!"

"If you've received this message, as I'm almost sure you have," Albert said solemnly. "Nephele and Demetria will be flying aboard your ship shortly. When the time comes, do the right thing. Until then, goodbye." His arm moved off-screen and the video feed switched off.

Ray, Julian and Lilith sat in stunned silence around the table, upon which still sat Lilith's half-eaten breakfast. "Ray, Lilith..." Julian said after what felt like hours. "This isn't my decision to make, however, I'll give you my thoughts on the matter." He swallowed nothing. "The Lymph Nodes, no matter Albert's reasons for using them, will kill hundreds of thousands – if not millions - of people. Some will die instantly in explosions from laboratories too close to them, some will die slowly due to being dependent on technology. I don't trust Albert Gewald, but..." He sighed. "I cannot and will not ask you to help me after this point. If you wish to leave, I will accept that completely."

"Isn't it obvious?" Ray asked.

"Yes, it is," said Lilith.

"We can't let all those innocent people die!" Ray and Lilith cried together.

"We have to stop the Lymph Nodes!" Ray continued.

"We have to stop the atomic bomb!" Lilith said simultaneously. Their eyes widened, and they looked at each other in horror.

"What?" They demanded of each other.

Oh boy.Julian thought, forcing himself not to sigh audibly.

"Didn't you hear Albert? A single nuclear war will destroy the world!" Lilith cried.

"That's an 'if', though," Ray protested. "The Lymph Nodes willkill people!"

"Fewer than a nuclear war!" Lilith said. "Sometimes, sacrifices have to be made."

"Who are we to say who should be sacrificed?" Ray asked.

"Most of the victims will be scientists," Lilith said. "The kind of people who spend their lives making these horrible weapons! People who create things like nuclear bombs and the Lymph Nodes without any concern for the lives they affect. Someone has to do this! Someone has to stop scientists from destroying the world! Why not us?"

"You're scared," said Ray bitterly. "You honestly want to let possibly millions of people die because your dad tried to – "

"This has nothing to do with him!" Lilith screamed.

"It has everything to do with him!" Ray protested. He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought him into this. But... we have to come to an agreement. If we don't, we'll be on opposite sides here. So let's test our resolve the one way we know how."

"Ray, are you honestly – "

"We'll duel," said Ray. "If I win, we stop the Lymph Nodes. If you win, we let them be built."

"Are you seriously willing to risk lives on a card game?"

"That's part of it," said Ray. "But even if you don't agree to the terms, duel me. I have to know how serious you are. I promise you, though, if you win, I won't do anything to stop the Lymph Nodes."

Lilith sighed. "Can't argue with a win-win situation."

After Ray and Lilith had prepared, they stood apart in the room in which they had duelled so many days ago. Julian sat off to the side, watching quietly as they had their argument.

"Why do you want to do this?" Lilith asked. "I never said I was going to help you stop the Lymph Nodes if I lose."

"I told you," said Ray, switching on his disc. "I want to see how serious you are. I want to test your resolve against mine."

Lilith sighed again. "Not a useful answer. Whatever. Let's just duel." (8000 – 8000)

"You can go first," Ray offered.

Man, he's acting weird today.Lilith noticed. "I set a monster. That's all."

"I summon Solanimus Magmagician!" Ray's fiery-red warlock took to the field, rolling a fireball between his fingers. (1900 ATK) "I'll discard Solanimus Firewingto draw a card... and then attack your monster!" It tossed a fireball at the card back, which flipped to show a hologram of a black-skinned fairy with wings made of water. (1700 DEF)

"Sacred Sprite of Lunanima," Lilith announced. As her sprite was incinerated, two more appeared. "I'm sure you remember – it Special Summons two from the deck."

"Of course I remember. Now, since I destroyed a monster by battle, I can Special Summon Solanimus Firewingfrom my Graveyard!" An eagle appeared. Lilith expected a phoenix, but only its wings were ablaze. (200 DEF) "It can't take out a Sprite by battle, so I'll end my turn."

It's a Tuner, huh? Lilith asked herself, reading the card on her disc. He must be saving it for Raging Dragon. How predictable. "I activate Ice Mirror of Lunanima. Now, I add a Lunanima from my deck to my hand with the same Level as a Lunanima in my Graveyard. So I add and summon the Level 4 Voodoo Princess of Lunanima!" The dark-skinned, dreadlocked shaman appeared. (1000 ATK) "Her effect..."

"Special Summons Sacred Sprite, I know," Ray finished, as the voodoo lady dragged a bound and sewn-mouthed pixie from the floor.

"Now," Lilith said sternly. "I overlay two Sacred Sprites and Voodoo Princess! Goddess of night, cast the world into eternal shadow! Xyz Summon; Gravity Queen of Lunanima!" She announced, as her fairies and princess flew into a galaxy on the floor, and Gravity Queen emerged. (3000 DEF) "Now, I activate Lunar Impact, and I detach a Spriteto add a Moon Counter!" Almost as soon as the holographic night sky appeared, the moon lurched closer to Ray. "I set a card. End turn!"

"During your End Phase, I'll use my own set card. Mystical Space Typhoon destroys what I assume is Moonlight Veil!" Ray declared, as his card flipped up and a Twister carried away Lilith's facedown card – which was indeed Moonlight Veil.

"You didn't destroy my victory condition?" Lilith asked incredulously. "What's wrong with you? After all this time, you don't see Lunar Impact as a threat?"

"Lunar Impact isn't a threat at all!" Ray retorted. "It was never a threat. Neither was Solanimus Raging Dragon / Assault Mode, neither was Hecate. The threat was us – but more than that! The threat was our desire to win!" Ray drew his card. "I'll show you my resolve! I tune Level 2 Solanimus Firewing with Level 4 Solanimus Magmagician!"

He's not making Raging Dragon?Lilith wondered.

"Dweller of the corona, eliminate all without the will to survive! Synchro Summon! Solanimus Plasma Eel!" In a flash of light, an enormous serpent swam out from the ground. It twisted and turned in mid-air underneath the artificial moon, burning with a fiery glow. (2500 ATK)

I don't even remember that card.Lilith realized.

"Plasma Eel's effect!" Ray said. "I select a defence-position monster and a Spell or Trap card you control. The monster switches to Attack Position, and the other card is bounced to your hand!" The eel released a shockwave of fire from its coiling body; the moon wavered in the air and disappeared, and Gravity Queentook a different stance. (1500 ATK)

"Dammit," said Lilith.

"Plasma Eel attacks Gravity Queen!" The creature released a stream of light from its unhinged mouth.

"Dammit, Ray!" Lilith reiterated. "If you're going to fight Gravity Queen, at least have the decency to use Raging Dragon! Not that it would help – I discard Snowflake Ghost of Lunanima!" The eel's attack struck only a cartoon-shaped ice ghost, shattering it. "And of course, that Special Summons Sacred Sprite." The remaining water-winged fairy was joined by an identical copy. (1700 DEF) "I think you know what this means."

"I do. End turn."

"Then for my turn... I overlay my two Sacred Sprites! Goddess of the frozen wasteland, cast the world into eternal winter!" The two sprites spiralled into a galaxy, and a snowstorm brewed. "Xyz Summon! Ice Priestess of Lunanima!" A human-shaped pile of snow compacted, becoming the pale priestess. (2500 DEF) "Ice Priestess' effect!" Lilith ordered. The priestess snapped her fingers; one of the two lights around her disappeared, and Ray's eel was suddenly encased with ice. "Now, I activate Lunar Impact again, and detach another material from Gravity Queen to add the first counter again." The ceiling became a night sky once more; the moon grew closer. "Next! I overlay Ice Priestess and Gravity Queen!" The two women hopped into a galaxy on the floor; as soon as they crossed its threshold, it expanded to fill the entire room. "Goddess of magic, to whom the moon is but a puppet! Cast the world into an eternity of unceasing shadow. GalaXyz Summon!" The pitch-black, silver-masked woman slowly emerged from the galaxy. "Hecate, Witch Goddess of Lunanima!" (3500 DEF, 4 Materials)

Ray crossed his arms. So she does have resolve after all. She believes her choice is the right one. But I... I'm not wrong.

"Hecate's effect!" Lilith ordered. Hecate snapped her fingers, and the moon moved forward another position. (2/7 Moon Counters) "End turn!"

Ray shook the doubt from his head. "I'll show you, Lilith. I'll show you that my belief is stronger! I activate Solanimus Shockwave!" He pointed towards the iced eel, which exploded. "This destroys a Solanimus monster I control. Then, I Special Summon a Solanimus from my deck with a level equal to or lower than half the destroyed monster. Appear! Solanimus Vicious Hatchling!" An egg appeared in the wake of the eel's destruction. It hatched into a miniature Raging Dragon. (800 ATK) "I can also draw one card."

"There's more, isn't there?"

"Right. When Solanimus Firewing is used as synchro material for a Solanimus, and then that monster's destroyed, I can banish Firewing in my Graveyard to bring back that Synchro!" Ray announced, as the Eel reappeared, slithering through the air again. "Its effect is negated, but that's okay. Now I tune Vicious Hatchling with Plasma Eel! I see your resolve, and match you with mine! Master of destruction, burn down everything in your path!" A huge explosion illuminated the night sky. "Solanimus Raging Dragon!" Where once was an eel now hovered an enormous orange dragon. It let out a roar as flames burned down its back. (3000 ATK)

"About time."

"I agree," said Ray. "Now, Vicious Hatchling gives Raging Dragon extra ATK equal to the ATK of the non-Tuner." (5500 ATK) "Not to mention Raging Dragon puts Hecatein Attack Position – it goes without saying I'm attacking!"

"It should also be obvious that I'll use Hecate's effect, detaching a Material to activate Moonlight Veil!" Lilith snapped her fingers; a wall of moonlight appeared just in time to block a torrent of fire. (3 materials)

I can do this. I have to. The lives of everyone affected at all by science rest on my shoulders.Ray told himself. "I set a card! End turn!"

"Why are you so sure this is the right thing to do?" Lilith asked. "Isn't the path that harms the fewest people the correct path?"

"My path does!" Ray argued. "Albert doesn't know what he's talking about!"

"Neither do you, clearly," Lilith muttered. "I activate Gift of Moonlight! Since I have two Moon Counters, I draw two cards." She stretched her hand up to the moon, where two cards flew into her grasp. "Now, I add another counter to Lunar Impact." Once more, the moon approached the ground. (3/7) "End turn!"

"Not quite!" Ray argued. "Almighty overlord of destruction, everything in your path will be annihilated by fires of fury! Assault Mode Activate!" He grabbed the card from his card zone and lifted it into the air. Armor burned out of the air and connected to Raging Dragon's wrists, shoulders and wings. Its horns became curved and wicked. "Solanimus Raging Dragon / Assault Mode! Now, I activate its effect! I destroy Lunar Impact and Hecate!"

"Well, you should know you're wrong about Hecate," Lilith argued. "Moonlight Veil again!" Hecate spun her scythe, deflecting yet another torrent of fire. (2 materials) "As for Lunar Impact, I discard Illusionist of Lunanima!" A blue-haired girl stood upside-down in the air. The fire aiming towards the moon shattered a mirror, but the moon had reappeared on the other side of the sky. "I can discard this card instead of letting Lunar Impactbe destroyed."

"Then it's my turn," said Ray. "I can't explain why I know we have to do this. The Lymph Nodes... they're evil! We can't interfere with the natural progression of humanity. We can't destroy all of humanity's progress just because of what happens in the future!"

"That's wrong!" Lilith retorted. "How can we notprevent the apocalypse if we have the power to do so? This is fighting destiny! This is changing humanity's fate! We have to do this!"

"No..." said Ray. "you..." He clenched his fists. "I can't explain it. Raging Dragon / Assault Modeattacks!"

"Hecate's effect!" Lilith countered, as there was yet another clash of fire and moonlight. (1 material)

"There's no guarantee humanity will go down the path Albert predicted!" Ray said. "Just because he said humans will create a nuclear bomb doesn't mean – "

"I've seen what scientists do!" Lilith cried. "They don't care about anything other than advancing forward with whatever twisted research they need! But it doesn't matter. The reasons don't matter at this point. You said you'll join me if I win, so that's what I'll do. Now that Raging Dragon's in its /Assault Mode form, I can switch Hecate to Defence Position." (3500 DEF) "I'll also add another counter to Lunar Impact!" Hecate lazily snapped her fingers; the moon moved closer. (4/7) "I activate One for One. I'll discard Wilting Lotus of Lunanima to summon another from my deck." An ugly, dead flower popped up from the ground. (0 DEF) "Now, I banish Voodoo Princess of Lunanimato bring the first one back." A second flower sprouted. (0 DEF)

"I summon Solanimus Blazing-Mane Lion!" Ray announced, as a lion with a mane of fire pounced to the field, landing beside his armoured dragon. "This puts Raging Dragon up to 4000 ATK. And even though I can't attack, I can activate this – Solanimus Soul Storm! This destroys a monster you control with less DEF than the 4000 ATK of my Raging Dragon." The dragon launched an enormous fireball.

"No it doesn't," Lilith said. "Hecate!" The goddess swung her scythe, slicing the flame in half. (0 materials)

"I'll set one card, and end my turn. Please, Lilith. Listen to me. There's no guarantee humans will create nuclear weapons. Honestly, if you told me the choice was between a million people and the world, I'd be with you, albeit reluctantly. But how can you decide to sacrifice millions of people guaranteedto stop a future that might not happen?"

Lilith's hand, hovering over her deck, began to shake. "I..." She wiggled each of her fingers, but the shaking didn't stop. Then she clenched her fist. "I believe what Albert said!" She cried. "Humanity is doomed to repeat the same mistakes. There will be nuclear weapons! I... I just know." She drew.

"You don't know that at all!" Ray protested. "You just see the worst in scientists – in humanity - because of what happened to you. Because your father killed himself. Not all people are as awful as he was!"

"Shut up!" Lilith screamed. "Shut up! Don't you dare talk about what happened like you know what I went through! Your parents' death was an accident. You had the luxury of blaming airship pilots, airship manufacturers, random events that no one could predict! I knew exactly how my father died. He abandoned his entire family for the sake of some useless piece of junk! Don't you dare try to tell me how I should interpret that!"

"I never blamed anyone for my parents' death!" Ray argued. "You can't dwell on the past forever!"

"Looking at the past is what helps us avoid mistakes in the future. And I'm going to do everything in my power to stop nuclear war!" She finally drew her card. "I summon Seadancer of Lunanima!" A mermaid with a tail made of water appeared, but promptly exploded.

"Solanimus Wild Explosion," Ray explained, holding up a card depicting a dinosaur on fire. "Now, I can Special Summon Solanimus Fireraptor!" A red-orange dinosaur jumped onto the field; flames shot out of its back. (2200) "Fireraptor's effect lets me destroy a card you control! I destroy Hecate!"

Even if I use priority on Seadancer's effect, the Xyz Material won't reach Hecate until after it's already destroyed...Lilith realized, as the raptor tore into her goddess. "Dammit!" She closed her eyes, but opened them again to find her father's laboratory. The duel disc on her arm was gone. She sighed; at least she was still her normal age.

"...directly into his brain stem," said a voice beyond the door.

"What the hell was he trying to accomplish?" asked the other man.

Seriously? Lilith asked herself. Let's just get this over with.She walked up to the door, but as she reached for the knob, a hand belonging to Ray caught her wrist.

"I won't let you open that door until you look into my eyes," said Ray, "and tell me that your decision to support the Lymph Nodes has nothing to do with your father."

"I..."

"Millions of lives are in your hands right now," said Ray. "I'm willing to risk the world on my faith in humanity. Are you willing to risk it on your own bitterness and hatred?"

Lilith thought. She leaned against the wall, staring off at one of the far corners of the room. After some time between minutes and hours, she turned back to Ray. It was a more calming environment than aboard the airship, where random machinery whirred and buzzed constantly. With actual peace and quiet, and no duel to focus on, Lilith finally came to her decision. "You are the biggest, dumbest optimist I have ever met. You're willing to risk the world on your faith in humanity? That's ridiculous." She sighed. "But so is hating a dead man for all these years. And helping kill millions of people because... because of what one man did to me years ago is even more ridiculous. I am the biggest, dumbest pessimist I have ever met."

Ray smiled. "Do you want to see what's behind the door?"

"Yeah," Lilith said. She put her hand against it; it swung open instantly. Lilith and Ray stepped out into a thin, white platform in the middle of an endless, black void. The platform split off into hundreds – no, thousands – of spiralling paths, leading off past the point either of them could see.

"Well, I'm confused," said Ray. "But it is your subconscious, so you tell me."

"This," said Lilith, spreading her arms wide. "Is the future. Infinite possibilities, infinite paths. We have no destiny. Humanity has no destiny. The only things that determine the shape of a path, let alone its destination, are the choices we make when we walk it."

"So, which path will you walk?"

"I have no idea," said Lilith. "But I'll shape it with this choice." She turned her head back to Ray. "I'll fight against Albert."

"We'llfight against Albert," Ray argued. "You're just backup."

"Oh don't even start!" Lilith said, laughing. "Is there any point in continuing the duel?"

"Up to you," said Ray. "I'll let you shape this path."

"In that case..." said Lilith, as the world snapped back to reality. Ray looked around as if a fly was buzzing around his head.

"What just happened?" Ray asked. "Did everything go all... void-y?" Lilith chuckled and switched off her duel disc. The holograms faded; Ray's disc shut off automatically as well. "Oh," said Ray. "I guess what I saw actually happened, then."

"Yes," Lilith said. She turned to Julian. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have based everything on... on my past. I'm going to give humanity what it deserves – the ability to choose its own path. I'm not going to force humanity to give up science."

"I'm happy for your sudden change of mind," Julian said, oddly knowingly. "Thank you."